Midstream urine collection

Abstract

Midstream urine collection with a device having an upper portion which forms an initial collection well, and a lower portion divided into an initial stream collection reservoir and a midstream collection reservoir. The device further includes a collection cavity and drain to allow a urine stream to flow into the housing. The device further includes a rotatable diverter adapted to rotate between: a first position in which an actuation panel is positioned to separate the initial collection well from the initial stream collection reservoir and a deflection panel is positioned to separate the initial collection well from the midstream collection reservoir; and a second position in which the deflector panel deflects the urine stream received through the collection drain into the midstream collection reservoir. The actuation panel comprises a piece of absorbent material affixed to a top surface thereof, within the initial collection well.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A midstream urine collection device, the midstream urine collection device comprising:
 a housing comprising an outer wall enclosing an interior volume, the interior volume having an upper portion which forms an initial collection well, and a lower portion which is divided by a dividing wall into an initial stream collection reservoir and a midstream collection reservoir;   a collection cavity formed on top of the housing by an upwardly-extending portion of the outer wall, the collection cavity having a collection drain in a bottom of the collection cavity to allow a urine stream to flow into the housing; and   a rotatable diverter having a deflection panel and an actuation panel joined along a fulcrum axis, the rotatable diverter being adapted to rotate between:
 a first position in which the actuation panel is positioned to separate the initial collection well from the initial stream collection reservoir and the deflection panel is positioned to separate the initial collection well from the midstream collection reservoir, and 
 a second position in which the deflection panel deflects the urine stream received through the collection drain into the midstream collection reservoir, 
   wherein the actuation panel comprises a piece of permeable absorbent material affixed to a top surface of the actuation panel, within the initial collection well, when the rotatable diverter is in the first position;   wherein after fluid contact, the piece of permeable absorbent material is configured to maintain an increased weight while remaining affixed to the top surface of the actuation panel in the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The midstream urine collection device of  claim 1 , wherein when the rotatable diverter is in the first position, the actuation panel is held in position by a piece of paper which is affixed to the actuation panel and to an inner structure of the housing. 
     
     
         3 . The midstream urine collection device of  claim 2 , wherein the rotatable diverter rotates from the first position to the second position when a tensile strength of the piece of paper is overcome. 
     
     
         4 . The midstream urine collection device of  claim 3 , wherein when the rotatable diverter is in the second position, the deflector panel forms an acute angle with respect to horizontal, such that the deflector panel slopes downward toward the midstream collection reservoir. 
     
     
         5 . The midstream urine collection device of  claim 3 , wherein when the rotatable diverter is in the second position, the actuation panel extends downward, thereby allowing urine in the initial collection well to drain into the initial stream collection reservoir. 
     
     
         6 . The midstream urine collection device of  claim 1 , further comprising an extraction port formed at a top portion of the housing above the midstream collection reservoir, and an extraction tube connected to the extraction port, the extraction tube extending into the midstream collection reservoir to collect urine stored therein. 
     
     
         7 . The midstream urine collection device of  claim 6 , wherein the extraction port comprises a cannula extending therefrom which is adapted to form a connection with a vacuum collection tube providing negative pressure for extracting the urine. 
     
     
         8 . The midstream urine collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the housing is formed of injection molded polypropylene. 
     
     
         9 . The midstream urine collection device of  claim 1 , wherein, in the collection cavity, the upwardly-extending portion of the outer wall is curved to form a funnel. 
     
     
         10 . The midstream urine collection device of  claim 9 , wherein the funnel comprises a lip portion which extends upward and away from a center of the funnel to direct the urine stream into the funnel. 
     
     
         11 . The midstream urine collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion is divided into the initial stream collection reservoir and the midstream collection reservoir by an inwardly-extending portion of the housing which forms the dividing wall. 
     
     
         12 . The midstream urine collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the lower portion is divided into the initial stream collection reservoir and the midstream collection reservoir by a barrier positioned in the interior volume to form the dividing wall. 
     
     
         13 . The midstream urine collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the fulcrum axis is positioned at an axis of rotation of the diverter. 
     
     
         14 . The midstream urine collection device of  claim 1 , wherein the fulcrum axis is positioned adjacent a top edge of the dividing wall and runs parallel to the dividing wall across the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The midstream urine collection device of  claim 1 , further comprising an excess spout formed in a bottom of the housing to dispel excess urine from the initial stream collection reservoir. 
     
     
         16 . A method of collecting a midstream urine stream using a device having a housing comprising an outer wall enclosing an interior volume, the interior volume having an upper portion which forms an initial collection well, and a lower portion which is divided by a dividing wall into an initial stream collection reservoir and a midstream collection reservoir, the housing further comprising a collection cavity formed on top of the housing by an upwardly-extending portion of the outer wall, the collection cavity having a collection drain in a bottom of the collection cavity to allow a urine stream to flow into the housing, the housing further comprising a rotatable diverter having a deflection panel and an actuation panel joined along a fulcrum axis, the method comprising:
 receiving an initial urine stream while the diverter is in a first position in which the actuation panel is positioned to separate the initial collection well from the initial stream collection reservoir and the deflection panel is positioned to separate the initial collection well from the midstream collection reservoir;   allowing the diverter to rotate from the first position to a second position;   receiving the midstream urine stream while the diverter is in the second position in which the deflector panel deflects the urine stream received through the collection drain into the midstream collection reservoir,   wherein the actuation panel comprises a piece of permeable absorbent material affixed to a top surface of the actuation panel, within the initial collection well, when the rotatable diverter is in the first position, and   wherein after fluid contact, the piece of permeable absorbent material is configured to maintain an increased weight while remaining affixed to the top surface of the actuation panel in the second position.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising affixing a piece of paper to the actuation panel and to an inner structure of the housing to hold the rotatable diverter in the first position. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the rotatable diverter rotates from the first position to the second position when a tensile strength of the piece of paper is overcome. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein when the rotatable diverter is in the second position, the deflector panel forms an acute angle with respect to horizontal, such that the deflector panel slopes downward toward the midstream collection reservoir. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein when the rotatable diverter is in the second position, the actuation panel extends downward, thereby allowing the initial urine stream in the initial collection well to drain into the initial stream collection reservoir.